Latest Spurs Draft Rumors and Draft Prospects Returning to College
Here are the latest Spurs draft rumors before the draft month of June begins.
Saturday will be June 1, meaning NBA teams like the San Antonio Spurs, have less than a month to decide on who they’ll draft June 26 and June 27 during the 2024 NBA Draft.
Let’s dive into the latest draft rumors and review some draft prospects who will be returning to college.
Stephon Castle Buzz
10 days ago, Kelly Iko of the Athletic wrote this about the Spurs having interest in Castle.
The Spurs are said to be big fans of UConn’s Castle, league sources said, and he is moving up their draft board. San Antonio has two top-10 selections and could take Castle with either the No. 4 or No. 8 pick.
Fast forward to today, May 31, and Jeremy Woo of ESPN is hearing similar buzz about the Spurs’ interest in Castle.
San Antonio has demonstrated strong interest in Castle, who might well land here if the Spurs stay put.
On the latest update to my draft board, Castle’s draft average was 7th, but both ESPN and NBADraftRoom.com have the Spurs selecting him with the 4th pick on their latest mocks.
As I wrote in early May, at 6’6” and 215 pounds, Castle is a bigger wing who should be ready for the NBA physically, and one of the skill sets that could land him early minutes if the Spurs drafted him, would be his defense.
The area where Castle would have to improve would be his outside shot, especially, if he were to start with Victor Wembanyama, who sometimes draws 2 to 3 defenders on a single possession.
You can read my full Castle scouting profile below:
Level of Interest
The Spurs have registered a level of interest in the following players recently, whether that be by workouts (past or future), interviews, or a report of the Spurs having interest in a player.
Cody Williams - Woo named the Spurs as a Top-10 lottery team with interest in Williams. Williams’ mock average is 10th, but some mocks have him going as early as 4th or as late as 14th. You can read my scouting profile on Williams below:
Devin Carter - Woo wrote that some Top-10 lottery teams, including the Spurs, have looked at Carter. Carter is a 6’3” guard from Providence who has a mock average of 16th. He’s mocked to go as early as 12th, or as late as 20th on mocks.
Dillon Jones - A few days ago, Michael Scotto of Hoopshype wrote the Spurs were a team Jones was going to workout for. Jones is a 6’6” forward from Weber State with a mock average of 42nd. If the Spurs wanted to draft him, he’s a player they would look at adding with one of their second round picks, either the 35th pick, or the 48th pick.
Enrique Freeman - On May 23, Sarah Todd of Deseret News reported Freeman had been interviewed by the Spurs. Freeman is a 6’7” forward from Akron. He’s not appearing on any mocks except one from NBADraftRoom.com, where he’s mocked at 47th.
Aaron Estrada - In early May, Estrada worked out for the Spurs. Estrada is a 6’3” guard from Alabama who is currently projected to go undrafted.
KJ Jones II - Jones II reportedly had a workout with the Spurs. Jones II is a 6’6” guard from Division II Emmanuel University. Like Estrada, Jones II isn’t popping up on any mocks, so his projection right now is to go undrafted.
Regarding Freeman, Estrada, and Jones II, even if they go undrafted, it’s not uncommon for the Spurs to add players they worked out during the draft process to their Summer League teams.
Draft Prospects Heading Back to College
Thursday the NBA released the names of 93 players from colleges and other basketball teams who withdrew from the draft.
Of those 93 players, 3 of the players were on my draft board in the second round.
Alex Karaban (UConn) - Karaban had a mock average of 42nd and one mock even had the Spurs selecting him at 35th.
Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest) - Sallis had a mock average of 41st and one mock also had the Spurs selecting him with the 35th pick. On a May 19 article, where I provided my picks for who the Spurs should draft, I had Sallis third behind Cam Christie and Ryan Dunn with the two second round picks.
Payton Sandfort (Iowa) - Sandfort had a mock average of 45th.
Topic Injury Impacting Mocks?
Nikola Topic’s recent injury is starting to have an impact on some of the mocks. In 3 mocks released over the last 2 days from ESPN, NBADraft.net, and NBADraftRoom.com, Topic is landing 8th to 13th.
Back on May 24, Jonathan Givony of ESPN wrote something interesting about the way European doctors evaluate injuries.
Several teams have pointed out that European doctors often have different philosophies from their American counterparts regarding ligament injury treatment as well as their likelihood for recommending surgery. So it's all but a certainty that his MRIs will be scrutinized closely and might have an impact on his draft stock if his availability for next season comes into question.
Next week the NBA is organizing pre-draft activities in Italy for some international prospects who were excused from being at the Draft Combine.
If Topic is there, the Spurs will be able to get access to his latest medical information since they’re a Top-10 lottery team.
You can read my full scouting report on Topic below: